Vaccinium corymbosum L. plant named &#39;RYOKU NH-13&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Vaccinium corymbosum  L. plant named ‘RYOKU NH-13’, characterized by having a more upright plant growth habit, stronger plant vigor, comparatively early fruit ripening time, comparatively large fruit size, sweeter fruits, better taste balance of sweetness and acidity, better taste of fruits, and smaller stem scar, as compared to other  Vaccinium corymbosum  L. varieties.

The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosedherein is: Vaccinium corymbosum L.

The novel variety of the Vaccinium corymbosum L. disclosed herein hasbeen given the variety denomination: ‘RYOKU NH-13’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Plant Breeders' RightsApplication No. 31725, filed Jan. 4, 2017, which is incorporated byreference herein as if set forth in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct hybrid variety ofnorthern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) named ‘RYOKUNH-13’. This novel variety was found by open pollination of ‘Chandler’,a seed parent variety, in the tests conducted for the period from 2003to 2007 in Matsumoto-City, Nagano-prefecture, Japan. As stated below,‘RYOKU NH-13’ has apparently different characteristics from those of thevarieties ‘Chandler’ and ‘Blueray’, both being widely planted and beingimportant varieties in the Chubu district of Japan.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Blueberry variety ‘RYOKU NH-13’ exhibits outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics when grown under normal horticultural conditions in thearea from Nagano-prefecture to the north of the Kanto in Japan,including:

-   -   (1) more upright plant growth habit and stronger plant vigor;    -   (2) comparatively early fruit ripening time (on average, around        July 10 of each year in Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan);    -   (3) comparatively large fruit size;    -   (4) sweeter fruits;    -   (5) better taste balance of sweetness and acidity;    -   (6) better taste of fruits; and    -   (7) smaller stem scar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs (FIGS. 1-8) show typical bush,flower, fruit and leaf characteristics for the new Vaccinium corymbosumL. plant, ‘RYOKU NH-13’. Colors shown are as accurate as can bereasonably reproduced by photographic means. In some cases, the colormight differ slightly from the colors of ‘RYOKU NH-13’ recited in thedescription.

FIG. 1 shows a tree body of ‘RYOKU NH-13’ (photographed date: Jul. 10,2015; photographed location: NIPPON RYOKUSAN CO., LTD; Matsumoto-City,Nagano-prefecture, Japan).

FIG. 2 shows a panoramic view of the cultivation area of ‘RYOKU NH-13’(photographed date: Sep. 7, 2012; photographed location: same as FIG.1).

FIG. 3 shows whole flowers of ‘RYOKU NH-13’ (photographed date: May 8,2015; photographed location: same as FIG. 1).

FIG. 4 shows broken-down parts of the flower of ‘RYOKU NH-13’(photographed date: May 8, 2015; photographed location: same as FIG. 1).

FIG. 5 shows fruits of ‘RYOKU NH-13’ (photographed date: Jul. 14, 2014;photographed location: same as FIG. 1).

FIG. 6 shows a cross-section of the fruits of ‘RYOKU NH-13’(photographed date: Jul. 14, 2014; photographed location: same as FIG.1).

FIG. 7 shows an upper side of the leaves (10 sheets) of ‘RYOKU NH-13’(photographed date: Jul. 22, 2014; photographed location: same as FIG.1).

FIG. 8 shows a lower side of the leaves (10 sheets) of ‘RYOKU NH-13’(photographed date: Jul. 22, 2014; photographed location: same as FIG.1).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESRIPTION A. Distinctive Characteristics of ‘RYOKUNY-11’

As described above, ‘RYOKU NH-13’ was obtained by the open pollinationof ‘Chandler’, a seed parent (Note: the possible pollen parent might be‘Blueray’). On Apr. 15, 2003, about 10,000 seeds of ‘Chandler’, whichwere cultivated in the field of NIPPON RYOKUSAN CO., LTD. (Matsumoto,Nagano, Japan), were seeded in plant seeding trays, and thentransplanted to pots. The resulting seedlings (about 3,000) were plantedin cultivation pots on May 1, 2004. Fructification of the plantedseedlings were started from Jun. 20, 2007 (on Year 3), and about 200plant individuals were selected based on the characteristics, includinglarger fruit size, better taste balance of sweetness and acidity, higheryield per plant, earlier ripening time, large and uniform fruits, etc.For the about 200 selected plant individuals, test plots (each includingabout 20 cuttings per plant individual) were formed, where these plantswere asexually propagated by cutting means. During the period from Jul.20, 2009 to Dec. 25, 2016 and for 3 generations, the plants werepropagated and examined for their characteristics based on the growth,yield and fruits quality in each test plot. For 10 test plots, thecharacteristics of the plants were observed for the period between theflowering time and the ripening time yearly for 5 years, and sinceneither variant nor off-type plant was observed for the period, thecharacterization of ‘RYOKU NH-13’ was finished on Dec. 25, 2016 and thebreeding was completed.

‘RYOKU NH-13’ is a blueberry clone which can be distinguished from theimportant blueberry varieties ‘Chandler’ and ‘Blueray’, both of whichare widely planted in the Chubu district of Japan, due to itscharacteristics including a more upright plant growth habit, strongerplant vigor, comparatively early fruit ripening time, comparativelylarge fruit size, sweeter fruits, better taste balance of sweetness andacidity, better taste of fruits, and smaller stem scar. 31 plants of‘RYOKU NH-13’ had been propagated by cutting means in Matsumoto, Nagano,Japan, and all the resulting plants were phenotypicallyindistinguishable from the original plant variety ‘RYOKU NH-13’. Inaddition, comparing to ‘Chandler’ and ‘Blueray’, the claimed plant‘RYOKU NH-13’ has a more upright plant growth habit, about 1 week to 10days earlier fruit ripening time (on average, around July 10 of eachyear in Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan), sweeter fruits, better taste offruits, and smaller stem scar when compared to its related variety‘Chandler’, and has stronger plant vigor, larger fruit size, bettertaste balance of sweetness and acidity, better taste of fruits, andsmaller stem scar when compared to ‘Blueray’ (see Table 1 below).

The following data defining the characteristics of ‘RYOKU NH-13’ werecollected from the asexual propagation carried out in Matsumoto, Nagano,Japan. The plant history was taken on a plot of 10 five-year-old plantsgrowing in Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan. ‘RYOKU NH-13’ has not been observedunder all possible environmental conditions, and the measurementsprovide might therefore vary when grown in different environments. Whereaverages are given, the sample size was 10.

B. Phenotypic Description of Vaccinium vorymbosum L. (‘RYOKU NH-13’)

Characteristics of ‘RYOKU NH-13’ are further specifically described asfollows:

-   1. Plant:    -   -   Plant vigor.—Strong, where the plant vigor is stronger than            ‘Blueray’.        -   Plant size.—Large.        -   Growth habit.—Upright.        -   Plant height.—1.8 m on average for 5-year old plant.        -   Plant spread.—1.1 m on average for 5-year old plant.        -   Tendency toward evergreenness.—Absent.        -   Cold hardiness.—Survived in winter frost (below −10° C.)            with minimum damage.        -   Ease of propagation.—Propagated by each of dormant wood            cutting and softwood stem cutting, where the rooting            percentage was greater than 70% and comparable to the other            varieties.-   2. Trunk and branchea:    -   -   Suckering tendency.—Less sucker as in ‘Chandler’.        -   Surface texture (of 6-month-old shoots).—Medium smoothness.        -   Surface texture (of 3-year-old and older wood).—Medium            smoothness.        -   Color of new twigs observed in the field.—Orangish yellow            green.        -   Internode length.—20.4 mm on average.-   3. Leaves:    -   -   Leaf length including petiole.—70.4 mm on average.        -   Leaf width of leaf at widest point.—39.2 mm on average.        -   Leaf shape.—Elliptic.        -   Leaf margin.—Entire.        -   Color.—Upper surface: Medium Green.        -   Pubescence.—Upper Surface of leaves: Absent. Lower Surface            of leaves: Absent. Margins: Absent.        -   Timing of vegetative bud burst.—Medium.-   4. Flowers:    -   -   Shape.—Campanulate.        -   Flowering period.—Mean date of 50% opening of flowers in            Matsumoto-City, Nagano-prefecture, Japan is May 3,            equivalent to ‘Chandler’.        -   Corolla.—Diameter: 9.4 mm on average. Length (from pedicel            attachment point to corolla tip excluding the pedicel): 12.0            mm on average. Color: White. Anthocyanin coloration in            corolla tube — Medium.-   5. Reproductive organs:    -   -   Pollen.—Color: Yellow.-   6. Fruit:    -   -   Mean date of 50% harvest in Matsumoto-City,            Nagano-prefecture.—July 10.        -   Diameter of calyx aperture on mature berry.—7.6 mm on            average.        -   Size and shape of calyx lobe on mature berry.—Medium size,            outcurving, and having deep calyx basin.        -   Detachment force for ripe berries (easy, medium,            hard).—Easy.        -   Fruit cluster density (sparse, medium, dense).—Medium to            slightly dense.        -   Fruiting type.—On one-year old shoots only.-   7. Berry:    -   -   Cluster (tight, medium, loose).—Medium.        -   Weight (on well-pruned plants).—3.81 g on average.        -   Height.—13.3 mm on average.        -   Width.—21.3 mm on average.        -   Shape.—Oblate.        -   Surface color of mature berries ripe on the plant.—Blue            purple.        -   Intensity of fruit bloom.—Medium.        -   Surface color of ripe berry after polishing.—Medium blue.        -   Immature berry color, with bloom.—Light to medium green.        -   Immature berry color, without bloom.—Yellow green.        -   Flesh color.—Light green.        -   Peel color.—Medium blue.        -   Pedicel scar.—Medium, 2.54 mm on average.        -   Firmness.—Medium.        -   Intensity of fruit sweetness.—High, Bx 12.3.        -   Intensity of fruit acidity.—High, pH 2.55.        -   Texture.—Crispy, juicy, medium seeds.-   8. Use: ‘RYOKU NH-13’ produce northern highbush blueberries suitable    for fruit-picking farms, fresh fruit markets and processed fruit    markets, etc.-   9. Resistance to disease, insects, and mites: ‘RYOKU NH-13’ grew    vigorously and showed excellent bush survival in the field. It    appears to be tolerant to stem blight (Botryosphaeria spp.) and root    rot (Phytophthora cinnamoni), with very few young plants dying soon    after planting. The response of ‘RYOKU NH-13’ to the various fungal    species that cause summer leaf spots is typical of other northern    highbush varieties, and fungicide applications may be needed after    harvest in order to reduce foliar diseases and to retain leaves    until autumn and make maximum flower bud set. Similarly,    susceptibility to typical blueberry insect and mite pathogens, such    as spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii), blueberry gall    midge (Dasineura oxycoccana) and blueberry bud mite (Acalitus    vaccini) is similar to other northern highbush cultivars.

TABLE 1 (Comparison of characteristics among varieties) The presentStandard variety Charact. UPOV Variety RYOKU Control Varieties No. No.Code Characteristics Definition Method Class State (Ex. Var. ) NH-13Blueray Chandler 1 1 QN Plant: vigor Strength Observ- 3 weak Bluetta, 76 7 (*) (+) of growth ation 5 medium Meader level (a) 7 strong Collins,of plant VG Weymouth Berkeley, Homebell, Woodard 2 QN Plant: size Sizeof Observ- 3 small Avonblue, 7 5 7 plant crown ation 5 medium Bluetta,(a) 7 large Flordablue VG Bluecrop, Earliblue Dixi, Homebell, Tifblue 32 QN Plant: Whole Observ- 1 upright Becyblue, 1 1 2 (*) G growth habitshape of ation 2 semi- Bluechip, plant without (a) 3 upright June,pruning VG spreading Spartan during Bluecrop, dormant Lateblue periodNorthland, Weymouth 4 3 PQ One-year-old Color of Observ- 1 greenBriteblue, 5 5 4 shoot: color middle part ation 2 greenish red Homebellof shoot (a) 3 greyish red Berkeley, extended VG 4 reddish Dixi before 5yellow Blueray, dormant 6 reddish Darrow, period brown Weymouth dark red5 QN One-year-old Length of Measure- 3 short 6 5 7 shoot: length middlepart ment mm 5 medium (212 (173 (288 of shoot (a) 7 long mm) mm) mm)extended VG before dormant period 6 4 QN One-year-old Length of Observ-3 short Avonblue, 7 3 5 shoot: length internode ation 5 medium Weymouth(20.4 (14.0 (16.7 of internode of shoot (a) 7 long Jersey mm) mm) mm)(upper half) extended VG before dormant period (upper half) 7 5 QN Leaf:length Length Measure- 3 short 5 5 5 (*) of leaf ment mm 5 medium (70.4(68.0 (67.0 sufficiently (b) 7 long mm) mm) mm) expanded MS/VG 8 6 QNLeaf: width Maximum Measure- 3 narrow 5 5 5 width of ment mm 5 medium(39.2 (31.0 (36.3 mature leaf (b) 7 broad mm) mm) mm) MS/VG 9 7 QN Leaf:ratio Ratio of leaf Measure- 3 small 5 5 5 length/width length to ment 5medium (1.80) (2.20) (1.85) maximum (b) 7 large width MS/VG (leaflength/ leaf width) 10 8 PQ Leaf: shape Shape of Observ- 1 lanceolateNorthland 3 3 3 (*) mature leaf ation 2 ovate Berkeley, (b) 3 ellipticCollins, VG 4 oblong Coville 11 QN Leaf: shape Shape of Observ- 3 acuteWeymouth, 5 5 5 (+) of tip tip of ation 5 medium Woodard mature leaf (b)7 obtuse Earliblue, VG Tifblue Berkeley, Climax, Southland 12 9 QL Leaf:color of Color of Observ- 1 yellow Bluechip, 2 2 2 upper side surface ofation 2 green Bluecrop, mature leaf (b) Blueray VG 13 10 QN Onlyvarieties Intensity Observ- 3 light 5 5 5 (*) with green leaf of greenation 5 medium color: color on (b) 7 dark Leaf: intensity surface of VGof green color mature leaf on upper side 14 11 QL Leaf: margin Type ofObserv- 1 entire 1 1 1 (*) margin of ation 2 serrate mature leaf (b) VG15 12 QN Flower bud: Intensity of Observ- 3 weak 5 7 5 anthocyaninanthocyanin ation 5 medium coloration coloration (a) 7 strong of flowerVG bud occurring to one year old shoot 16 13 QN Inflorescence: Length ofMeasure- 3 short 7 5 6 length inflorescence ment mm 5 medium (42.0 (28.7(35.1 (excluding at flower- (c) 7 long mm) mm) mm) peduncle) ing timeMS/VG (excluding peduncle) 17 14 PQ Flower: shape Shape of Observ- 1urceolate Bluecrop, 2 1-2 2-3 of corolla corolla at ation 2 campan-Jersey full bloom (c) 3 ulate Northblue, VG cylindrical Northsky 18 PQFlower: color Color of Observ- 1 white Aliceblue, 1 3 1 of corollacorolla at ation 2 creamy Bluetta, full bloom (c) 3 white Briteblue VG 4greenish Avonblue, white Berkeley, light pink Bluecrop Blueray, Collins,Coville Bluebell, Delite, Dixi, Tifblue 19 15 QN Flower: size of Size ofObserv- 3 small 7 5 7 (*) corolla tube corolla tube ation 5 medium atfull bloom (c) 7 large VG 20 16 QN Flower: Intensity of Obser- 1 absentor 1 3 1 anthocyanin anthocyanin vation 3 very weak (*) coloration ofcoloration (c) 5 weak corolla tube on surface of VG 7 medium corollatube strong 21 17 QL Flower: ridges Presence or Observ- 1 absent Herbert1 9 9 on corolla tube absence of ation 9 present Aliceblue, ridges on(c) Berkeley, corolla tube VG Dixi 22 18 QN Fruit cluster: Density ofObserv- 3 sparse Homebell, 6 7 7 density fruit ation 5 medium Jersey,per fruit (d) 7 dense Woodard cluster VG Bluechip, Bluecrop, BluettaDarrow, Herbert, Patriot 23 19 QN Unripe fruit: Intensity of Observ- 3light 4 7 3 (*) intensity of green ation 5 medium green color color ofVG 7 dark fruit before ripening 24 20 QN Fruit: size Size of fruitObserv- 3 small Homebell, 7 5 7 (*) at ripening ation 5 medium June,(3.81 g) (2.89 g) (5.72 g) (d) 7 large Northblue VG Collins, EarliblueBerkeley, Bluecrop, Spartan 25 21 PQ Fruit: shape in Shape in Observ- 1elliptic Berkeley, 3 3 3 (*) (+) longitudinal longitudinal ation 2 roundJersey, section section of (d) 3 oblate Sharpblue fruit at VG Earliblue,ripening Halton, Woodard 26 QN Fruit: size of scar Size of stem Observ-3 small 5 7 7 (+) scar of ation 5 medium (2.54 (3.80 (3.98 mature fruit(d) 7 large mm) mm) mm) VG 27 PQ Fruit: shape of Shape of Observ- 1 star2 2 2 (+) calyx cavity calyx ation 2 circular cavity of (d) mature fruitVG 28 22 QN Fruit: attitude Attitude of Observ- 1 erect 2 3 3 of sepalssepals ation 2 erect to relative to (d) 3 semi-erect mature fruit VG 4semi-erect level 29 23 QN Fruit: type of Direction of Observ- 1incurving 3 1 3 sepals curving of ation 2 straight sepals (d) 3 reflexedVG 30 24 QN Fruit: diameter Diameter of Observ- 3 small Avonblue, 7 5 7of calyx calyx ation 5 medium Bluechip, (7.60 (4.40 (6.46 basin basin of(d) 7 large Sharpblue mm) mm) mm) mature fruit VG Blueray, WoodardCoville, Darrow, Homebell 31 25 QN Fruit: depth of Depth of Observ- 3shallow Bluecrop, 7 7 7 calyx basin calyx ation 5 medium Rancocas, (3.22(2.60 (2.32 basin of (d) 7 deep Trfblue mm) mm) mm) mature fruit VGEarliblue, Jersey Blueray, Collins, Dixi 32 26 QN Fruit: intensityIntensity of Observ- 1 very weak Dixi, 5 5 5 (*) of bloom bloom on ation3 weak Herbert, surface of (d) 5 medium Sharpblue mature fruit VG 7strong Collins, Coville Avonblue, Bluecrop, Tifblue 33 27 PQ Fruit:color of Color of skin Observ- 1 light blue Berkeley, 2 2 2 (*) G skin(after of mature ation 2 medium Bluechip, removal of fruit after (d) 3blue Tifblue bloom) removal of VG 4 dark blue Blueray, bloom blue redJersey, June Dixi, Homebell 34 28 QN Fruit: Firmness Observ- 3 softHerbert, (+) firmness of mature ation 5 medium Homebell, fruit (d) 7firm Spartan VG/VS 9 very firm Collins, Dixi 5 6 5 Coville, Southland 35PQ Fruit: color Color of Observ- 1 white Berkeley, 3 3 3 of flesh fleshof ation 2 cream Bluecrop, mature (d) 3 light green Blueray fruit VG 4light purple Eadiblue Bluechip, Lateblue, Shatpblue Aliceblue, Delite,Homebell 36 29 QN Fruit: Sweetness Observ- 3 low Avonblue, 7 7 6 (*) (+)sweetness of mature ation 5 medium Bluechip (Bx (Bx (Bx fruit (d) 7 highBerkeley, 12.3) 12.6) 13.0) VG Bluetta, Spartan Aliceblue, Bluecrop,Blueray 37 30 QN Fruit: acidity Acidity of Observ- 3 low Earliblue, 7 56 (*) (+) mature fruit ation 5 medium Homebell (pH (pH (pH (d) 7 highBlueray, 2.55) 3.12) 2.96) VG Herbert Collins, Elliott, Lateblue 38 31QL Plant: Shoots to Observ- 1 on one- 1 1 1 (*) G fruiting type whichfruit ation 2 year-old adnate (c) shoots only VG on one- year-old andcurrent season’ s shoots 39 QN Fruit: Tendency Observ- 3 less Earliblue,3 3 3 tendency of of ation 5 medium Herbert, cracking cracking (d) 7much Spartan during VG Avonblue, harvest Berkeley, season BluechipBriteblue, Climax, Darrow 40 32 QN Time of Time of Measure- 3 earlyAvonblue, 5 5 5 (*) (+) vegetative beginning to ment 5 medium BeckyblueApril April April bud burst burst first MG 7 late Sharpblue 7(2016)6(2016) 8(2016) vegetative Darrow, bud of each Weymouth individualElliott, plant Lateblue 41 33 QN Time of Time of 10% Measure- 1 veryearly Bluecrop, 6 5 6 (*) (+) beginning flowering ment 3 early Collins,April April April G of flowering occurring MG 5 medium Woodard 26 23 27on one-year- to one year 7 late Dixi, (2016) (2016) (2016) old shoot oldshoot 9 very late Herbert, Lateblue 42 34 QN Varieties which Time of 10%Measure- 3 early — — — (*) (+) fruit on one-year- flowering ment 5medium G old shoot and occurring MG 7 late current season’ s to currentshoot: Time years shoot of beginning of flowering on current year’sshoot 43 35 QN Time of Time of Measure- 1 very early Avonblue, 5 5 7 (+)beginning 10% fruit ment 3 early Earliblue, Middle Middle Late G offruit ripening on MG 5 medium Weymouth July July July to ripening oneyear 7 late Herbert, to late to late early on one- old shoot 9 very lateJersey July July August year-old shoot Briteblue, Elliott, Tifblue 44 QNPeriod of Length Measure- 3 short Darrow, 5 5 5 harvest of harvest ment5 medium Northblue period MG 7 long Berkeley, of fruit BluecropBriteblue, Tifblue, Woodard 45 36 QN Varieties which Time of Measure- 3early — — — (*) (+) fruit on one-year- 10% fruit ment 5 medium G oldshoot and ripening MG 7 late current season’ s on current shoot: Time ofyears beginning shoot of ripening on current year’ s shoot

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Vacciniumcorymbosum L. plant named ‘RYOKU NH-13’, as described and illustratedherein.